Keyboard-locking mechanism for mechanical cashiers, registers, and recorders.



No. 813,360 PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

I. S. DEMENT & F. J. HULL. KEYBOARD LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL CASHIERS REGISTERS,AND RECORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3, 1901.

4 snnms snnnr 1.

r e s s e s. 1k V622 202251 PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. I. S.'DEMENT dz F. J. HULL. KEYBOARD LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL GASHIERS,

REGISTERS,AND REGORDERS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 3, 1901- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 813,360. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. I. s. DEMBNT & 1 .0. HULL. KEYBOARD LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL GASHIERS REGISTBRSAND RECORDBRS.

PPLIGATION FILED ow. 3 1901. A 4 sums-41mm a.

rlL

ll I z 2 c ab 4' Egifi- I 4 4 No. 813,360. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. I. s. DBMENT & P. J. HULL. KEYBOARD LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL GASHIERS, REGISTERS,AND REOORDERS.

nrmquxox FILED OUT. 3, 1901.

4 anus-4mm 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEW JERSEY. ANI) FUS'IER. J. IlUlQL,

()F BRUORLYN, NEW YOhh, ASHIHNORS, BY MESNE ASSIHNMIGN'IS. TO

N IUV YOh K.

Application filed October 3,

To all whom it may concur;

Be it known that we, Isaac S. Dnu'nn'r, residing at East Orange, in the county of its sex and State of New Jersey, and Fos'rnn J.

HULL, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboardliocking Mechanism for Mechanical asliiers, Registers, and Recorders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locking means for the keyboard mechanism of mechanical cashiers, registers, and recorders. In such 5 apparatus it is in some cases desirable that the ke s for the different denon'iinations should e operated in a predetermined order, say in descending order of thousands, hundreds, &c. To insure this-and prevent the op- 0 eration of the keys except in such order is the object of the present invention. For this purpose we provide locking devices controlled. by the requisite groups of keys and acting when a key of any group is operated to pre- 5 vent operation of certain of the other groups of keys. We also provide dogging devices that prevent the simultaneous operation ofkeys of different groups. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure-1 is a side elevation of the keyboard with its supporting-frame in section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same on the line a a in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line b b in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a front elevation, partly broken away. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and R are detail sectional views of the locking devices proper, taken, respectively, in the plane of the several locking devices.

The keyboard mechanism herein shown is 4 intended for use with cash-registers, recorders, mechanical cashiers, and similar apparatus.whereincertain operations are tobe performed under the control ofkcyboard mechanism comprising keys arranged in denominational or departmental groups. As the construction of the cashier, register, or recorder mechanism to which this keyboard .is applied forms no part of the present invention, we have not shownit herein, but have Sfiecification'of Letters Patent.

5 shown only the keyboard mechanism itsell',

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

1901. Serial No, 77.473.

it being innlerstood that connections will be made therefrom to the controlled apparatus to properly operate same.

1 represents the lrame ol' the machine, in which is mounted the mechanism of the key-' board, said mechanism comprising keys 2, sliding in guides in said frame and pressed to normal or upper position by springs 3. These keys are arranged in groups or rows for difl'er ent denoniinations, as units, tens, &c., or l'or 6O denominations and departments. For vZLGlI row or group ol' ke s we provide a slide 4, the several slides 4fbeing guided in the vertical plates ol frame I and being pulled forward by springs 5. Each slide 4 is provided with inclines or cam portions 4,-adapted to be engaged by the lugs 2 on the respective keys of the corresponding group, so that depression of any of such keys will force .the slide rearwardly.. At the foot of this incline or cam portion is a notch or shoulder 4", adapted to engage the lug 2 of the depressed key and hold the key down, the slide 4 snapping forward sufliciently for this purpose by the action of its spring 5.

The locking mechanism forming the subject of the present invention is adapted to insure the operation of the slides in a certain order by causing the operation of any one slide'to lock other of" the slides. .[t is here shown as adapted to insure operation of the keys of difierent denominations in descending order only-that is, from left to right. This is ef- -fected by dogging lugs or wings 6 on the respective slides 41. and by locking-slides 7, arranged to cooperate with all the slides 4-. The wings 6 project obliquely sidewise on the left of each of the slides 4 and extend in proximity to but a little to the front and below the bottom of a key of the next group to the lel't that is, ol next higher denomination so that as anykey is'depressed and moves a slide 4; rear-wardit will bring the wings 6 of that slidennder the. keys of the next group,

so as to prevent depression of such keys. Even ii the latter keys be struck at the-same time they will not be able to reach their l'ullv- .operated position before being interceptedv by these wings. The wings 6 therefore serve .as'mcans to prevent simultaneous operation I00 of keys of adjacent groups. They also serve on the operation of a key of any group to lock the next group to the left, and for such purposes they may in some cases be sufficient without the use of locking-slides 7. These wings may of-course be omitted from the lefthand slide 4, as shown.

Locking-slides 7 arearranged at the front of the machine, lying flatwise one above another and sliding in guide plate or bracket 8. These slides 7 are pushed to the right by s rings 0. Each slide 7 has four notches or s ots 10, which receive and cooperate with the forward ends of slides 4, each of which is slotted to form an 0 )en frame, hook, or hail, the vertical or front ar 11 of same entering a notch or slot 10in each of the locking-slides 7,

so that all of the said slides cooperate with all the slides 4. In Figs. 5 to 8 are shown the forms of the respective slides 7, which for distinction are here marked 7 7 7 7 corresponding to thousands, hundreds, tens, and units, the slides 4 being similarly distinguished. Each slide 4 4*, &c., operates a particular one of the locking-slides '7" 7 &c., and the operation of each slide 7" 7', &c., serves to lock certain of the unoperated slides 4 4*, &c. The shapeof these notches is shown -for the respective slides 7 to 7 in Figs. 5 to 8. All the slots are so formed as to permit normally of a free passage rearward of the bars 11 of all the slides 4, so that anykey on the board may be struck first. In each slide 7 one of the slots 10 is an operating-slot, another the next to' the right) is a resetting slot. and the remainder are looking slots. Thus for the thousands-slide, Fig. 5, the first slot on the left is out obliquely away from the bar 11 toward the back, as shown at 12, so that when the bar 1] moves rearward with slide 4 on operation of a thousands-key the slide 7 a will be thrown to the right by its sprin 9. The next slot 10 to the right has an inc ine 13, which extends rearwardly toward the bar 1 1, so that while the said bar 1]. is normally free of the incline the latter will pass in back of said bar when the slide 7 is released, as stated, so that slide 4* is not locked; but if it is operated it will reset the slide 7 The other notches or slots have offsets or shoulders 14,whicl1 when the slide 7 is moved to the right engage back of the bars 11 and prevent operation of the corresponding slides 4 44. Thus the operation of thousand-slide 4* will lock the tens and units slides 4 1, but will leave the hundreds-slide 4 free to operate, and if slide 4 is then operated it will reset the locking-slide 7.

The slide 7 has in its second slot 10 a releasing-incline 12, cooperating with the hundreds-slide 4 and said slide 7 also has a resetting-incline 1 3, coop crating with the tensslide, and shoulders 14, cooperating with the thousands and units slides. The releasingsetting the slides 4 we provide a bail 17 on a resett1ng shaft 18,- operated by suitable handle mechanism. If the slides 4 are in normal position, the flanges 26 on their rear ends are free of lugs 19 on the bail 17 as the latter is swung rearward and forward by the handle means abut if any slide 4 has moved backward and is caught by the operated key en gaging under its hook 4 as said slide moves slightly forward'then in the next rearward movement of bail 17 8, lug 19 thereon will engage the flange 26 ofsuch slide 4 to move it back again to its rearmost position and will release the operated key from hook 4". Key 2 will then spring up to normal position, and as the resetting-bail 17 turns forward again the slide 4 resumes its normal position.

A universal lock-plate 21 is shown for all the keys, said plate sliding in frame 1 and having slots 22, through which the keys ass. Normally shoulders 2 on the keys are a ove the edges of the slots, so as to prevent operation of the keys; but on forward movement of plate 21an enlargedpart of each slot 22 is brought under the corresponding key, so as to permit same to be operated. This plate 21-1s operated by arms 23 23 one shaft 24, which ma be connected to any control-' ling device ,w ose operation is desired to be precedent to operation of the keyboard.

'The keys 2 are connected to operate cashier, register, or-r'ecorder mechanism in usual or suitable manner. I

4 It will be understood that where the operation of the interlocking mechanism between the several groups of keys is described and claimed the universal locking mechanismfor all the groups is not to be lost sight of, it being understood that until the universal locking mechanism has been released none of the keys or groups can be operated, but that after release of the universal locking mechanism any key in any group may be operated any difl'erent groups bcin capable of operation in a predetermined on er of sequence, meansactuated by any key of one group to lock the keys of' groups out of said predetermined or- .der of sequence. Y

2. A keyboard mechanism for the purposes described 1 comprising normally unlocked groups of keys representingdifl'erent denominations, the keys of different groups being capable of-operation in' a predetermined or-,

der of sequence, means actuated by any key of one group to lock the keys of the next group out of said order of sequence.

3, -A ke board mechanism comprising a plurality o? senting a member of aserial order and any ey in any grou being capable of initial opera- .tlon, in com iDBtlOIlWlQh locking means operative b the actuation of any key in any group to ock all the other groups except one.

Y 4. A keyboard mechanism for the purposes described comprising keys arranged in groups oiv different denominations and devices controlled by the operation of each cup to lock the keys of the groups of lower enominations except the ad'acent group.

5. A keyboard mechanism or the purposes described comprising groups of keys representing different denominations, the keys of different groups being capable of operation pluralit of groups of keys any kizy -4 groups and controllin the order of their op-- eration, said interloc 'ng mechanism operated by any key of any group to look all the othergroups of keys except one.

7. keyboard mechanism comprising a ofwhich 1s capa le of initial operation, e several groups together representin and ocking means actuated of any key in any group to 100 all the groups 5 except the one next in theserial order.

keys of another group to control the opera-f poses described comprising groups of Re s representing different denominations,- t e -having projecting'w'mgs adapted to engage 8. The combination of apluralityof oups of keys and slides correspondingtoan 0 er ated by the keys of each group, each s ide.

. having projecting means engaging with'the tion thereof. 9. The combination of a plurality of f oups of keys and slides corresponding teen 0 erated by the keys of each roup, each s 'de the keys of another group.

10. The combination of a plurality of groups of keys re resenting difierent denomi nations, the key of the different groups begroups of keys, each group regrea serial order, Iythe operation.

ing capable of operation in a predetermined order (if-sequence, and means controlled by the keys of each group to prevent simultaneous operation of keys of adjacent groups.

11. The combination of a plurality of groups of keys, slides operated by therespecti ve groups, and a plurality of lockingdevices, eac said slides and controlled by t 1e same, and

each locking device having portions engaging the others of said slides to lock the same.

12. The combination of a plurality of groups of keys, slides operated blyi-the respective oups, a plurality of loc ng devices 1 locking deviceenga ed by one of each ockin device having a portion engaged by one of t e key-operated slides to control the operation. of said locking device, a portion engaged by another" of t e-key-operated slides to reset the locking device, and pertions en aging other key-operated slides to p 5 look the last-named slides.

' 13. A keyboard mechanism for the urposes described, comprisin groups of eys and lockingdevice's control ed by the ke s of one group to look all the other groups of. eys

except one, the keys of the unlocked group havin connection with the locking devices where y-when one of said keys is actuated it will unlock the said locking devices.

14. A keyboard mechanism for the pur-, oses'deseribed comprising grou sof keys,-

ooking devices controlled by the eys of one group to look all the other groups of keys except one, means actuated by thekeys of the un ocked group to release some ofthe locking devices, and independent means for releasing the other locking devices.

15. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of rows or groups of keys, interlocking mech-' anism cooperatin wit whereby an initia operation of a ke m an intermediate row or group locks the. eys of the row or roup on one side thereof and.

said rows or groups leaves unloc ed the keys of the adjacent group on the opposite side thereof. 16. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of groups of keys, the keys of any .one of which arecapableof initial operation, and mechanism cooperating with said groups whereby the operation of av ke in one group leaves unlocked the keys vo an adjacent group-and the operation of a key in suchadacent group tioned group. i

17. A keyboard mechanism for the purlock the keys of groups out of said predeter-.

mined order of sequence, and a locking device for all the. keys and means for releasing said locking device s the keys in the first-men &

18. A keyboard mechanism comprising a. plurality of groups of keys, each grou p representing a member of a serial order and any key in any group being capable of initial operation, in combination with locking means operative by the actuation of any key in any group to lock all the other groups except one,

and a universal lockin device to lock all the keys, and means for re easing said locking device.

19. A keyboard mechanism comprising a plurality of groups of keys any key of wlnch 

